a. [ad. mod.L. exhibitīvus, f. exhibit-: see EXHIBIT v. and -IVE.]
† 1. Having the function of imparting or communicating. Cf. EXHIBIT v. 1. Const. of. Obs.
[1550. Bucer, Conf. de Euch., § 54. Malo dicere … pane & vino dari corpus & sanguinem Domini, quam significari, et panem hic signum esse corporis exhibitivum quam signum simpliciter.]
1607. Schol. Disc. agst. Antichr., I. ii. 98. The signes of the old Testament be not in his iudgment, exhibitiue of any grace, but significatiue only.
1681. R. L’Estrange, Apol. Prot., IV. i. 112. That the Species of Bread and Wine are not only Signs … but that they are also Exhibitive and Communicative … of the very things that they represent.
2. Having the property or function of exhibiting or showing forth. Const. of.
1596. H. Clapham, Briefe Bible, I. 32. Togither with his Covenant, the Lord adioyneth a SEALE, or exhibitiue Signe.
1708. Brit. Apollo, No. 45. 1/2. Words exhibitive of a double figure.
1737. Waterland, Eucharist, 168. The Sacramental Bread … representative and exhibitive of the natural Body.
† 3. Used for: Self-manifesting. (Of the Divine mind: by Norris opposed to conceptive.) Obs. rare.
1678. Norris, Coll. Misc. (1699), 159. The Simple Essences of Things … are the same with that [sc. the Divine] Understanding it self, consider’d as variously exhibitive or representative. Ibid., 352. By the mind of God Exhibitive, is meant the Essence of God, as thus or thus imitable, or participable by any Creature.
Hence Exhibitively adv.
1610. T. Higgons, Serm. Pauls Crosse, 3 March (1611), 21. This grace is, equally, in all the persons, but originally in the Father, exhibitiuely in the Sonne.
1739. Waterland, Sacram. Part Eucharist, 12. The Trope lies in the Verb was, put for signify, or exhibitively signifie.
